The Alto Mugello is facing a serious environmental emergency. A landslide brought to light a landfill of the 70s, pouring tons of waste in the Rovigo and Santerno rivers. The disaster puts the local ecosystem, citizens’ health and the economy of the territory at risk. Urgent appeal to institutions for immediate intervention
An environmental disaster of alarming proportions
The intense recent rains have caused a landslide along the provincial road 477 of the Alpe di Casaglia, bringing to light an abandoned landfill which, between 1971 and 1972, had been used following an agreement between the municipalities of Palazzuolo sul Senio and Florence. The collapse caused the release of a significant amount of waste in the Rovigo stream, an Apennine water course about 12 kilometers long, which flows into the Santerno river.
The Santerno, greater tributary of the Rhine, is known for the quality of its waters, among the best in the area. This disaster is not limited to a single waterway, but extends to the entire Basin of Santerno and, potentially, of the Rhine, threatening a natural and cultural heritage of invaluable value. The environmental disaster, however, risks compromising not only Santerno, but also the entire hydrographic basin of the Rhine, with serious consequences on the biodiversityon public health and tourism.
Impact on the ecosystem and on the local community
In addition to the ecological damage, the disaster represents a concrete threat to the local economy. The clear waters and unspoiled landscapes of the Rovigo and Santeno rivers attract thousands of tourists every year, promoting the economic activities related to hiking, naturalistic tourism and local catering. The risk of pollution compromises this balance, putting numerous production realities of the territory in difficulty.
A desperate environmental appeal to the institutions: immediate intervention necessary
Faced with the severity of the situation, citizens and local associations are mobilizing with voluntary initiatives for cleaning the affected areas. However, the extent of the disaster requires much wider and coordinated action. The municipalities of Palazzuolo sul Senio and Firenzuola, alone, cannot face an emergency of this reach.
The associations ask the competent institutions for an urgent and structured intervention, which provides:
- Secure the landslide on the landfill to avoid further landslides and the risk of waste spills. Contain the waste still present on the non -landslide side, to prevent them from being dragged downstream. Remove the waste from the river bed, so as to restore the quality of the water and the balance of the river ecosystem.
- Effective institutional coordination. A joint action between Municipalities, Union of Municipalities, Tuscany Region, Emilia-Romagna Region and Ministry of the Environment, together with all the competent bodies, so that the emergency is faced quickly and efficiently.
- Adequate technical and financial support. Sufficient economic and human resources are needed for reclamation operations, environmental restoration and constant monitoring over time. A specialized technical support for waste management and the safety of the landfill is required.
- Constant monitoring and transparency. Continuous control must be started on the quality of the water, on the environmental impact and public health. It is essential to guarantee clear and timely communication to the population regarding the evolution of the situation and the measures adopted, to best protect the territory and its inhabitants. Faced with a disaster of this reach, we cannot be waiting for: immediate answers and a concrete commitment by all the institutions involved are needed.
United to save our territory
The safeguard of the Upper Mugello is a collective responsibility. The associations ask for the support of all citizens, associations and institutions so that this disaster is not ignored and Rovigo and Santerno rivers can return to being a natural and cultural resource of invaluable value.
Environmental emergency in the Upper Mugello